Obamacare

What it is:

Also known as the more generic "health care reform," Obamacare refers to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA; signed into law on March 23, 2010) -- and to a lesser degree, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, both of which reform many aspects of the health care and insurance industries.

How it works/Example:

President Barack Obama advocated for many of the reforms contained in the bills, which led the media, supporters, and critics to dub the legislation "Obamacare." Though the legislation spans thousands of pages, the following are some of the most prominent features:

Beginning in 2014, requires employers with more than 50 full-time employees to provide "affordable" coverage to those employees or pay an annual fine of at least $2,000 per employee -- after the first 30 employees. That means that a company with 51 employees would pay $42,000 (21 employees X $2,000 = $42,000) in annual fines.

Requires individuals who can afford insurance to purchase a policy via a state insurance exchange or other method by January 1, 2014, or face a fine equal to the higher of $695 or 2% of their income.

After September 23, 2010, prohibits insurers from establishing lifetime or "unreasonable" annual limits on the dollar value of "essential" benefits.

Prohibits insurers from searching for errors or other technical mistakes on a customer’s application and using those errors to deny payment for services when the customer gets sick.

Beginning January 1, 2014, requires insurers to provide coverage for non-dependent children up to age 26.

As of September 23, 2010, prohibits insurers from denying coverage to children under age 19 based on pre-existing conditions.

Beginning January 1, 2014, prohibits insurers from excluding people from group plans based on preexisting conditions. Provides $5 billion in subsidies for uninsured people with preexisting conditions (the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, or PCIP).

Requires all health plans to cover preventive services and immunizations.

Prohibits employers from limiting eligibility for their company coverage based on wages of full-time employees. Allows employers to vary premiums by up to 30% for participating in health or disease-prevention programs.

Through December 31, 2013, requires insurers to refund portions of premiums if their "non-claims" costs exceed 20% (for group plans) or 25% (for individual plans).

Provides $5 billion to reimburse employers for health benefits to retirees and their families.

Obamacare faces a mountain of controversy, but one of the most prominent controversies centers around the purchase mandates. More than 30 states have challenged Obamacare’s requirement that citizens purchase insurance products, and the challenge has gone all the way to the Supreme Court. Additionally, critics argue, the requirements that more people purchase insurance and insurers pay for more services translates to a massive increase in demand for insurance and health care and, accordingly, a massive increase in the price of insurance and health care.

Why it Matters:

Obamacare is perhaps the most well-known regulation from the Obama administration, and its future remains to be seen. Its influence, however, will likely persist indefinitely

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